The baby farmers
a chilling tale of missing babies, shameful secrets and murder in 19th century Australia
by Anne Cossins
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In October 1892, a one-month-old baby boy was found buried in the backyard of Sarah and John Makin, two wretchedly poor baby farmers in inner Sydney. In the weeks that followed, 12 more babies were found buried in the backyards of other houses in which the Makins had lived. This resulted in the most infamous trial in Australian legal history, and exposed a shocking underworld of desperate mothers, drugged and starving babies, and a black market in the sale and murder of children. Annie Cossins pieces together a dramatic and tragic tale with larger-than-life characters: theatrical Sarah Makin, her smooth-talking husband John, her disloyal daughter, Clarice, diligent Constable James Joyce with curious domestic arrangements of his own, and a network of baby farmers stretching across the city. It's a glimpse into a society that preferred to turn a blind eye to the fate of its most vulnerable members, only a century ago.
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Subjects
Case studies, Trials (Infanticide), Women murderers, Infanticide, Murderers, HistoryPeople
John Makin, Sarah MakinPlaces
Australia, New South Wales| Edition | Availability |
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The baby farmers: a chilling tale of missing babies, shameful secrets and murder in 19th century Australia
2013, Allen & Unwin
in English
1743314019 9781743314012
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Includes bibliographical references and index.
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| July 18, 2019 | Edited by MARC Bot | import existing book |
| July 25, 2018 | Created by ImportBot | import new book |